Durham Brass Festival 2019 is just around the corner. Here's the information you need if you're thinking of going.

Durham Brass Festival celebrates everything about brass band music with a series of concerts and events. With everything from traditional colliery pit bands through to the latest exciting modern brass music, Durham Brass Festival will be a Durham event with something for everyone, in a variety of venues across County Durham.

Here's an overview of what's on at Durham Brass Festival 2019.

We've also got more stories on Durham Brass Festival, including:

A full list of Durham Brass Festival free events
Five big Durham Brass Festival highlights
New concert added to Durham Brass Festival calendar
Streets of Brass road closures
Full list of Wharton Park free brass concerts
Watch the incredible Durham Brass Festival launch event

What is Durham Brass Festival?

Durham Brass Festival celebrates brass music with a programme of performances from a variety of bands. There will be traditional pit bands but also street bands who create a lively performance, and there will also be digital link ups to brass bands in Denmark and Norway.

The Durham Brass Festival 2019 theme is brass and health; they'll be taking music into care homes and hosting a 'Healthy Brass' day which will feature talks and workshops on how brass players can maintain good mental and physical health.

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When is Durham Brass Festival?

Durham Brass Festival 2019 begins on Friday July 12, lasting 10 days until Sunday July 21.

What bands will be at Durham Brass Festival?

As well as bands playing more traditional concerts, there will be 12 street bands taking part in Durham Brass Festival 2019. For instance, regular favourites Mr Wilson's Second Liners will be bringing their exciting brass based on 90s club culture, while Oompah Brass describe themselves as the UK's original rock and roll oompah band, with a repertoire of Bavarian style with a modern twist drawn from the likes of AC/DC, Queen and Bon Jovi.

Louisiana Funky Butts Brass Band are coming from Germany with a wide variety of genres from Latin Grooves to French Pop, and Reel Brass bring a brass twist to ceilidh music.

Rajasthan Heritage Brass Band are vibrant and colourful, and Czech The Circus Brothers combine brass and disco.

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What gigs are there for Durham Brass Festival 2019?

There are 15 gigs during Durham Brass Festival. Our three highlights are:

Promised Land: a secret rave experience courtesy of Mr Wilson's Second Liners. It's a gig in a secret location somewhere in central Durham, the details of which will be revealed via phone once you've booked your tickets. The Durham Brass Festival secret gig takes place on Friday July 12, with the DJ from 8pm, and the dance at 9pm.

Tickets cost £18 from the booking page.

Verdi's Requiem: This should be something special - a new transcription of Verdi's Requiem for brass band and choir, featuring the Reg Vardy Band and a special guest choir from Preston Hollow Presbyterian Church in Dallas, Texas. The brass Verdi's Requiem takes place in Durham Cathedral on Saturday July 20 at 7.30pm.

Tickets cost £18 (£16 concessions) from the booking page.

Wharton Park meets the West End: The Durham Brass Festival Wharton Park concerts are always good fun. This one features the Scottish Swing Orchestra and the Festival Broadway Chorus who will play jazzy versions of musical theatre hits.

The Durham Brass Festival Wharton Park concert is on Sunday July 21 at 6-8pm, and is free.

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What else will Durham Brass Festival be doing besides concerts?

Durham Brass Festival 2019 has a whole host of community events. Brass in Schools will see brass music in 75 schools in the area, giving 13,000 children a taste of brass music. Brass in Care Homes will take brass bands to perform in three County Durham care homes, while Dancehall Days - in partnership with Beamish Museum and the Alzheimer Society - will see musicians and actors interweave stories in the Beamish Welfare Hall.

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